White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds press briefing

Key Concepts

• Federal Disaster Declarations: Assistance provided to states impacted by severe winter storms.
• Sanctuary City Policies: Local policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
• ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement): Federal agency responsible for enforcing immigration laws.
• CBP (Customs and Border Protection): Federal agency responsible for border security.
• Angel Families: Families of victims killed by undocumented immigrants.
• HSI (Homeland Security Investigations): Investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.
• DHS (Department of Homeland Security): Federal department responsible for national security.
• Federal Law Enforcement Obstruction: Illegal interference with the duties of federal law enforcement officers.

Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia Storm Response & Minnesota Shooting – Press Briefing Transcript Summary

I. Federal Disaster Assistance & Storm Response

The White House has approved federal disaster declarations for Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. This action aims to provide these states with access to federal resources to aid in their response and recovery efforts following recent severe winter storms. Specifically, the assistance will support efforts to restore power, clear roads for emergency services, and ensure community safety. The White House will maintain direct communication with governors and local officials, particularly in the hardest-hit states, in the coming days.

II. Minneapolis Shooting & Federal Law Enforcement Opposition

The briefing addressed the shooting in Minneapolis on Saturday, emphasizing that no one in the White House, including President Trump, desires violence or fatalities on American streets. The incident, involving an ICE agent, is under active investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI, with an internal review also being conducted by Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The administration is allowing the investigation to proceed without pre-judgment.

However, the administration strongly attributes the circumstances leading to the shooting to deliberate resistance from Democratic leaders in Minnesota – Governor Tim Waltz and Mayor Jacob Frey – who are accused of spreading “lies” about federal law enforcement. These leaders are alleged to have actively obstructed ICE’s efforts to arrest violent criminals, including murderers, rapists, pedophiles, human traffickers, and gang members, by blocking cooperation from local and state police. Furthermore, they are accused of encouraging “left-wing agitators” to harass, record, and obstruct federal officers, creating dangerous situations. Obstructing federal law enforcement and inciting violence are deemed illegal and unacceptable.

III. Immigration Policy & Border Security – Historical Context & Current Actions

The administration argues that the current situation is a direct consequence of the open border policies implemented during the previous administration of Joe Biden, which allegedly allowed “tens of millions of illegal aliens” to enter the country, including violent criminals. The administration highlighted the cases of victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants – Joselyn Nungre, Lake Riley, and Rachel Morren – as examples of the consequences of these policies, referring to their families as “angel families.” A recent incident in New Jersey, where an undocumented immigrant allegedly fractured the skull of an 8-year-old child with a thrown stone, was also cited.

President Trump is presented as having promised accountability to these families by securing the border and deporting criminal undocumented immigrants, a promise supported by nearly 80 million voters. The administration asserts that it is actively fulfilling this promise by arresting and removing these individuals from cities across the country, including Minneapolis. Despite the resistance from Minnesota’s sanctuary city policies, two individuals have tragically lost their lives in the state.

IV. Proposed Solutions & Demands for Minnesota

President Trump has demanded an end to the “resistance and chaos” in Minnesota and has outlined a three-point plan for Governor Waltz and Mayor Frey:

1. Turnover of Criminal Aliens: Transfer all incarcerated undocumented immigrants with criminal records, as well as those with active warrants, to federal authorities for immediate deportation.
2. Cooperation with Arrests: State and local law enforcement must cooperate with ICE in arresting undocumented immigrants.
3. Assistance with Apprehension: Local police must assist federal law enforcement in apprehending and detaining undocumented immigrants wanted for crimes, particularly violent ones.

Implementing these measures, the administration claims, would eliminate the need for CBP support in Minnesota and allow ICE and local law enforcement to work together effectively, as they do in other jurisdictions. The administration is also calling on Congress to pass legislation ending sanctuary cities, arguing that American cities should be safe for law-abiding citizens, not “dangerous, illegal alien criminals.”

V. Data & Public Support

The administration cited statistics indicating that seven of the top ten safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE. They also pointed to a decrease in the murder rate in Washington D.C. following increased cooperation with ICE. Polling data was referenced, stating that over 80% of Americans favor deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of violent crimes.

VI. Response to Criticism & Further Investigations

The administration addressed criticism regarding statements made by officials like Steven Miller and Secretary Gnome concerning the Minneapolis shooting, emphasizing that the investigations are ongoing and the President wants to allow them to conclude. Questions were raised about the Arizona Attorney General’s comments encouraging citizens to use lethal force against ICE agents, which the administration condemned as dangerous rhetoric. The administration also deferred questions regarding potential legal action against the Arizona Attorney General to the Department of Justice.

The administration defended the deployment of Tom Holman to Minneapolis, stating he is qualified and has the full trust of the President. They also confirmed that Secretary Gnome remains in charge of DHS and is overseeing both the immigration enforcement efforts and the FEMA response to the winter storms.

VII. Future Plans & Foreign Policy Updates

President Trump is scheduled to travel to De Moines, Iowa, to discuss affordability and the economy. The administration also provided updates on ongoing peace talks regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and celebrated the return of the last remaining hostages in Gaza, attributing this success to President Trump’s leadership.

Notable Quotes:

• “Nobody in the White House, including President Trump, wants to see people getting hurt or killed in America's streets.”
• “Obstructing federal law enforcement and inciting violence against officers is wrong and illegal.”
• “A country unable to deport criminals who enter it illegally is no country at all.”
• “President Trump will never back down from his promise to deport violent criminal illegal aliens and make America safe again.”

Conclusion:

The briefing presented a strong defense of the administration’s immigration policies and a critical response to the events in Minneapolis. The administration framed the shooting as a direct result of obstructionist policies from Democratic leaders and reiterated its commitment to border security and the deportation of criminal undocumented immigrants. The administration emphasized the need for cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement and called for an end to sanctuary city policies. The briefing underscored the administration’s commitment to prioritizing the safety of American citizens and holding criminals accountable, regardless of their immigration status.